Nibbna in Development of Buddhism

Sanu Mahatthanadull, Ph.D.International Buddhist Studies College, MCU13 January 2015Nibbna: The Supreme Peace of Humanity1What is Nibbna?In general, nibbna is: The Final Goal The Ultimate Goal The Highest Good (Summum Bonum) The Final Deliverance (Vimutti, Vimokkha) The Supreme HappinessAs the Buddha says Just as the water of a river plunges into the ocean the merges with the ocean, so the spiritual path, the Noble Eightfold Path, plunges into nibbna and merges with nibbna 2Definitions of NibbnaNibbna (Sanskrit; Nirvana) literally means: The extinction of Desires (Tanhakkhaya) The extinguishing of the flame of craving The extinguishing of the fires of greed, hatred and delusion The destruction of all defilements The end of Samsara The emancipation, liberation, or freedom from the continuity of Dukkha (Suffering)

3Synonyms of nibbna Vimutti, Mutti: Liberation, Freedom Visuddhi: Purity Amata: Immortality rogaya: good health Akata: not made; not built. Akicana: nothing lingering in the mind; free from anxiety. Akuto-bhaya: fearless.

4Synonyms of nibbna (cont.) Accuta: immovable; undeparting. Acchariya: marvellous. Ajara, Ajajjara: ageless; undecaying. Ajta: not born. Anata: not swayed; absence of craving. Ananta: limitless. Andna: no grasping.

5Synonyms of nibbna (cont.) Anpara: sublime; foremost. Anlaya: without longing; absence of clinging. Ansava: without sava (effluents/taints). Anidassana: not seen with the eye; signless. Antika: without calamity. Anuttara: unsurpassed; supreme. Apalokita (-na): not disintegrating; not dissolving.

6Synonyms of nibbna (cont.) Abbhta: has not been before; wonderful. Abydhi: without disease. Abypajjha: without oppression. Abhta: not coming to be. Amata: deathless. Amosa-dhamma: imperishable. Asakiliha: undefiled.

7Synonyms of nibbna (cont.) Asakuppa: unshakeable.Asakhata: not constructed. Asahra: unshifting. Asoka: sorrowless. rogya: without sickness; perfect health. Issariya: freedom; mastership. Khema: security; safety.

8Synonyms of nibbna (cont.) Tahakkhaya: the end of craving. Ta: defender; protection. Dpa: island; refuge. Dukkhakkhaya: the end of suffering. Duddasa: difficult to see. Dhuva: enduring. Nipua: subtle.

9Synonyms of nibbna (cont.) Nippapaca: without obstructive defilements; without papaca. Nibbna: the cessation of defilements and all suffering. Nibbuti: cooling; the allayment of affliction. Nirodha: cessation of suffering. Pata: excellent. Paramattha: the supreme benefit. Parama-sacca: the supreme truth.

10Synonyms of nibbna (cont.) Visuddhi: purity; impeccable. Sacca: truth. Santa: peaceful; still. Santi: peace. Saraa: refuge. Siva: highest bliss. Suddhi: purity. Sududdasa: exceedingly difficult to see.

11Synonyms of nibbna (cont.) Pra: the other shore; safe destination. Mutti: release; emancipation. Mokkha: salvation. Yogakkhema: freedom from bondage. Lea: sanctuary; shelter from danger. Vimokkha: liberation. Viraja: stainless. Virga: the fading, cooling off, and expiration of lust.

12The Buddhas Sayings on the Four Noble Truths (1) Now this, bhikkhus, is the noble truth of suffering: birth is suffering, aging is suffering, illness is suffering, death is suffering, union with what is displeasing is suffering; separation from what is pleasing is suffering; not to get what one wants is suffering; in brief, the five aggregates subject to clinging are suffering.. . . the origin of suffering: it is this craving which leads to renewed existence, accompanied by delight and lust, seeking delight here and there; that is, craving for sensual pleasures, craving for existence, craving for extermination.S.V.42113The Buddhas Sayings on the Four Noble Truths (2). . . the cessation of suffering: it is the remainderless fading away and cessation of that same craving, the giving up and relinquishing of it, freedom from it, nonreliance on it. Idam kho pana, bhikkhave, dukkhanirodho ariyasaccam: Yo tass yeva tanhya asesa-virga-nirodho, cgo, painissaggo, mutti, anlayo.. . . the way leading to the cessation of suffering: it is this Noble Eightfold PathS.V.421

14Nibbna and the Four Noble Truths15The Anguttaranikya -A.IV.379.I. Saupdisesa-puggala / the learner (Sekha)1. Antar-parinibbyone who attains Parinibbna within the first half life-span2. Upahacca- parinibbyone who attains Parinibbna after the first half life-span3. Asakhra- parinibbyone who attains Parinibbna without exertion4. Sasakhra- parinibbyone who attains Parinibbna with exertion5. Uddhasotoakanihagmone who goes upstream bound for the highest realm; up-streamer bound for the Not-Junior Gods6. Sakadgmone who reduced of lust, hatred and delusion7. Ekabjthe Single-Seed8. Kolakolathe Clan-to-Clan9. Sattakkhattuparamathe Seven-Times-at-MostII. Anupdisesa-puggala / the adept (Asekha)10. The Worthy One:

the one established in the Fruition of Arahantship16The Itivuttaka It.38.I. Nibbna with life remaining (saupdisesa-nibbna-dhtu)

The monk in this Dhamma-vinaya who is an Arahant, a passionless one who has completed his holy life, done what is to be done, abandoned the burden, attained benefit for himself, extinguished the Fetters of existence, and attained release by right knowledge still experiences pleasant and unpleasant objects, still feels happiness and suffering because all his five indriyas, such as eye, still remain and are not destroyed.17The Itivuttaka (cont.) It.38.II. Nibbna without life remaining (Anupdisesa-nibbna-dhtu)

The monk in this Dhamma-vinaya who is an Arahant, a passionless one who has completed the holy life, done what is to be done, abandoned the burden, attained benefit for himself, extinguished the Fetters of existence, and attained release by right knowledge. All feelings [defilements such as craving] in the body of that monk can no longer be enjoyed. They have been extinguished.18Nibbna and Human Language (1) Language is created and used by human beings to express things and their ideas in the worldWords are symbols representing things and ideas known to us. These symbols do not and cannot convey the true nature of even ordinary things. Language is considered deceptive and misleading in the matter of understanding of the Truth.

19Nibbna and Human Language (2) Nibbna is beyond the capability of human language to express it. Human language (and other symbols) cannot be used to express nibbna completely and satisfactorily. Human language cannot convey the real nature of nibbna. We cannot find out nibbna contained in Human language

20Nibbna and Negative terms Because nibbna is beyond the capability of human language, so it is often referred to by such negative terms as:Negative termsMeaningTanhakkhayaExtinction of ThirstAsamkhataUncompound, UnconditionedViragaAbsence of desireNirodhaCessationnibbnaBlowing out of or Extinction21Nibbna and Positive TermsNibbnaTheFinalGoalUltimateGoodHighestDeliveranceSupremePeace22nibbna: Negative or Positive?It is incorrect to say that nibbna is negative or positive.These terms cannot be applied to nibbna which is beyond duality and relativity.A wrong negative notion expresses annihilationism (Sassatadihi).A wrong positive notion expresses eternalism. (Ucchedadihi).

23Nibbna is not the Result of AnythingNirvana is not the natural result of the extinction of craving. If nibbna is an effect produced by a cause, it would be samkhata 'produced' and 'conditioned'.

24What is there after nibbna?This question cannot arise, because nibbna is the Ultimate Truth. If it is Ultimate, there can be nothing after it. If there is anything after nibbna, then that will be the Ultimate Truth and not nibbna 25The Popular Expression about NibbnaSome popular inaccurately phrased expressions like 'The Buddha entered into nibbna or Parinibbna after his death' have given rise to many imaginary speculations about Nirvana. We often take nibbna to be a state, or a realm, or a position in which there is some sort of existence, and try to imagine it in terms of the senses of the word 'existence' as it is known to us.26Entering into nibbna? This popular expression 'entered into nibbna' has no equivalent in the original texts. There is no such thing as 'entering into nibbna after death'. There is a word parinibbuto used to denote the death of the Buddha or an Arahant who has realized nibbna, but it does not mean 'entering into nibbna'. Parinibbuto simply means 'fully passed away', 'fully blown out' or 'fully extinct', because the Buddha or Arahant has no re-existence after his death. 27What happens to Buddha or an Arahant after his death, Parinibbna? This comes under the category of unanswered questions (avyakata). Even when the Buddha spoke about this, he indicated that no words in our vocabulary could express what happens to an Arahant after his death. 28If there is no Self, no Atman, then who realizes Nirvana?29